Assumption: Yao and Martin are healthy. Assume no Western Conf Team lands Lebron, Wade, Bosh or JJohnson to shake up the landscape. Question: Will the Rockets be a contender next year? Here's the roster: Brooks/Lowry Martin/Buddinger/Taylor Ariza/Battier Scola/Jeffries/Hill Yao/Hayes I would evaluate our standing in the West, as follows: Lakers - still the most talent overall Dallas/Houston/Portland - A step below the Lakers, but good talent and depth at multiple positions. Although the Lakers would be heavily favored in a 7 game series, any one of these teams could take the Lakers if things break just right. SA/OKC/Utah - SA is a proud champion, but is a step below unless it makes a significant move. OKC is on the rise. Utah is good, but lack the talent and top gear of the teams above. Mem/New Orleans - Memphis could push to the group above, but much depends on keeping its young core together and them growing. NO is still a 1 man team that's going nowhere.
I don't think the team you projected for next year is a contender. If Yao comes back as a 20/10 force and stays healthy AND Martin meshes well it's possible but I still think the team will be too thin up front. I think that team is still one athletic, SKILLED big man away from being able to match up with LA, Denver and Dallas. However, after listening to Morey today it sounds like he is just warming up. I expect a significant move to be made this summer. I think this team is going to be loaded next season and ready to meet the big boys in the playoffs.
IMO we do a sign and trade this offseason and let's say we get Bosh. Then yes we go as far as we stay healthy. If no sign and trade we make a good run but can't beat the Lakers.
Need some luck, and a little more upgrades in back-up PF. Still with a healthy Yao, I'd say we're in the Dallas-Denver tier, if not the Lakers tier.
Nope. Had we gotten a trio of Martin/Yao/Amare then an overwhelming yes. Lots of events could still unfold though
Yes, with the caveat that Yao, especially, is healthy and we have luck on the health front with everyone else. Oh yeah, absolutely a contender. Morey, Les, and Carl Landry made that happen. A healthy Yao? This team will give the opposition plenty of sleepless nights, gaming for us. We will be a contender next season, folks. C.O.N.T.E.N.D.E.R. What's that spell? Houston Rockets!
With this team building chemistry and baring no injuries I say this team defintely has a chance. The Rockets will certainly not be the favorites, but we will be the number one team in our division. Suck on that Dallas
Considering a team of Yao and Artest was the only tough matchup the Lakers faced last year I would say yes. Simply swap Martin for Artest, add more experience for Brooks/Lowry, throw in Budinger and Ariza on our side this time and I dont see why not.
Odd, as I feel the backup PF position is the LEAST problematic position for this team. With Hayes/Anderson, the backup PF doesn't need to play center. And Scola's easily 30mpg. Which means you only need about 15mpg from the position. Even if Jordan Hill doesn't cut it, part of the MLE should easily take care of it. To me, assuming Morey doesn't pull even more shockers in the offseason, is still the health. If we go into the playoffs with a fully healthy team, I honestly believe this team can match up against the Lakers, given Kobe's age. And no other western conference team is really all that dominating.
Still don't feel as if we have as much talent as the other teams. Feel like we're missing one more piece to the puzzle. Also, we have only 3 veterans - Yao, Battier and Scola - too many young guys, need to develop them more. I would say a 52 win team if everybody stays healthy. Possible WCF, but that's it.
Hmm... Depends on what Morey does this offseason. But even then, I wouldn't say 2010-2011 is our year. 2011-2012 will be the return of Clutch City.
If we snag Stoudemire or Bosh via S&T, we could potentially destroy the Lakers. If not, we could still challenge 'em but probably fall short.
Not as constructed, but theres still a lot of maneuvering to do, we still got the 2010 NBA Draft and the 2010 free agency(sign & trade) to go, so this question is a little pre-mature wait till the summer is over, because I believe the roster wont look the same by then... --RB
Health will be the major issue. If Yao comes back, and I still have doubts, and regains his form, doubts again, and every one else keeps improving and no major injuries, and KM comes alive, and, and.......yes. The potential is there.
You forgot Kevin Martin, Ariza, and Chuck. They aren't kids and have been around the block. Who knows what Morey will do this summer? Who we'll get in the draft, a trade, free agency? The team we have right now, healthy, is a contending team, in my opinion, and Morey is not over. I don't think he'll ever be "over."
I personally think we are gonna go after a solid PF this off season to solidify our superiority over the Lakers. (Amare or Bosh most likely)
